Father of four Seal sings about commitment

Zorianna Kit

4 Min Read

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy-winning singer Seal, known for such hits as “Kiss From a Rose” and “Crazy,” releases his 6th album on Tuesday called “Seal 6: Commitment.”

Singer Seal sits with his two sons Henry (L) and Johan (R) as they watch the Los Angeles Lakers play the Oklahoma Thunder in Game 5 of their NBA Western Conference playoff series in Los Angeles April 27, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The British performer sat down with Reuters to talk about music, being a father to four children with supermodel Heidi Klum and the new reality show the couple are about to start shooting.

Q: You titled your album “Commitment.” Why?

A: “I think that commitment is the recurring theme that kept popping up. Certainly the last seven years of my life since I met my wife (Heidi Klum) have been extremely committed. But not just in our personal life. My work has a level of commitment to it. The team around me consists of people who are committed.”

Q: With that commitment theme, what are the songs about?

A: “They range from relationships to searching to sacrifice to digging in the dirt. I had to do that on one or two songs. In order to write things that are going to resonate with people, you are doing to have to dig in certain places.”

Q: The song, “The Way I Lie,” is about dishonesty. That doesn’t sound like it would be part of the “commitment” theme.

A: “I drew upon past life experiences that are not necessarily a part of my life now. But it certainly prepared me for my life right now. So therefore, it’s an integral part of my life now.”

Q: You and Heidi have four children. Do they figure in to any of your songs?

A: “All the time. ‘Secrets,’ for example. There’s a chapter in that song that is directly related to our first child, Lenni. If you listen to it, you’ll know which one it is. But I try not to be too specific because it takes away the ability for people to relate and make it their own.”

Q: When do you write songs?

A: “I write all the time. I write when we’re out at dinner. We’ll be out at sushi — my daughter loves sushi — and there will be music going around in my head. Somebody will say something, or I’ll overhear a conversation and start writing.”

Q: So when inspiration strikes at dinner, you don’t drop everything instantly and sequester yourself in some quiet place to write?

A: “In the old days, literally if I was out at dinner, I’d get up and go home. (But with the kids), you can’t do that anymore. It’s not even an option.”

Q: What has fatherhood given you?

A: “It’s made my life so much fuller. It’s enabled me to see the world as a completely different place. When you look at it through their eyes, it’s a very beautiful world.”

Q: Will you have more children?

A: “No more! We’ve got four of them and they’re fantastic. But it’s a handful!”

Q: Would you ever record a children’s album for them?

A: “I’d love to do something like that with Heidi. We’ve talked about it. We’ve actually written one or two things — silly things. But it would be nice to do a children’s album or a children’s book.”

Q: You and Heidi renew your wedding vows every year. Now the two of are about to shoot a pilot for U.S. cable network Lifetime called “Love’s Divine”. What’s the premise of the show?

A: “It’s finding couples that aren’t necessarily as fortunate as us and giving them the opportunity to have the wedding of their dreams. For example, the soldier who has been away in Afghanistan or Iraq who hasn’t seen his newborn. Or the couple who has been married for 40 years, but maybe they’re an interracial couple who got married under not-so-ideal circumstances.”

Q: When you renewed your vows this year, what kind of celebration did you have?

A: “This year, the theme my wife came up with was ‘Brides and Bridegrooms.’ We had about 100 guests who came as brides and bridegrooms and they all renewed their vows. Even the people who weren’t married went through the procedure. It was such a beautiful thing.”